Men’s Football: Leeds Gryphons 6-1 Nottingham University

Leeds annihilated Nottingham University in a fiery encounter at a very wet Weetwood, to extend their unbeaten run this season to six games.

A hat-trick from Dave Syers, a brace from Seb Cody and one from Scott Mummery took Gryphons’ total goals scored this season to 21, as another impressive attacking display showed why they are top of the BUCS Premier Men’s North.
    Both teams showed a lot of desire in the early exchanges. Nottingham lost their centre forward and captain early on to a hamstring injury, as Leeds began to look dangerous going forward.         Despite the weather, Leeds were still able to play their short passing style of football. A beautiful passing move between Mummery, Syers and Jordan Barnes ended in a corner but could easily have been a goal.
    When in possession Leeds began to put a lot of pressure on Nottingham, obviously getting to the away side when one of their players was booked for kicking the ball away.
    Just as Nottingham appeared to be coming back into the game, they had a corner cleared off the line. Leeds put together a fantastic passing move that Syers finished to make it 1-0. Barnes made a great run down the right, passing the ball to Cody, who played a ball across the edge of the box, missing Syers.
    Thankfully Syers continued his run into the area, latching onto a forward ball and stroking it home.
    There was still more to come before half time. Nottingham had a penalty decision turned down, before Syers hit both the bar and the post.
    Uni then had a goal disallowed, and an excellent run from Cody, playing the ball through the defenders legs before having his shot pushed over the bar by Nottingham’s debutant keeper Santino Jostins.
    The Nottingham player booked earlier in the half received a second yellow after a succession of horrendous challenges.
    Nottingham started the better in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser after five minutes. The game stayed close despite Uni’s great movement and clear enjoyment of the space afforded them by the extra man.
    There were plenty of strong tackles as both sides looked to gain an advantage. Another good passing move between Barnes, Will Turl and Syers went out for a corner, before keeper Aaron Ratchford was called upon to make a superb save when Nottingham went clear one on one.
    But Leeds’ attacking superiority soon paid off, Barnes’s cross fell to Cody, who drove the ball into the top of the net to put Gryphons back in the lead.
    An Alun Griffith free kick kept the pressure on, forcing Jostins into a save at full stretch. Mummery made it three soon after, Barnes was tackled after a run into the box by Jostins, the ball fell to Mummery on the edge of the area who put it past the covering defenders and diving keeper.
    Cody scored his second, volleying in a Turl knock down after a long ball. Griffith came close again with a free kick that hit the post, before Sears scored Leeds’ fifth and then sixth with a volley from another Griffith free kick from the left wing, to seal the rout.
    Captain Alun Griffith praised his players’ mental strength, “We showed a lot of desire to come back from the equaliser, great team spirit.’
    And it is that strong team spirit, added to the brilliant passing, movement and attacking play of the Leeds team that has made sure that they will go into next week’s game against Northumbria at least four points clear of Loughborough and a step closer to winning the league.

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